delegation to a meeting of the Dependent Territories Association in London.

According to party insiders, Ms Smith has decided to go to the conference, due to be addressed by UK Foreign Secretary Robin Cook amid a massive rewrite of Britain's relations with its former colonies.

The news came a day after it was announced Premier Pamela Gordon would travel to London following the submission of Bermuda's `wish list' to the British Government.

But yesterday Ms Smith was staying tight-lipped over what the PLP would like to see from the review of relations.

She said the PLP's views would be announced at a press conference next week.

Ms Smith added: "I can announce at this time that, after full consultation at the central committee, Parliamentary and caucus level, the PLP has prepared and sent its submissions to Britain. A copy has also been sent to His Excellency the Governor.'' Ms Smith was speaking as she announced Bermuda Industrial Union leader Derrick Burgess as the PLP candidate for Hamilton East at the party's Alaska Hall headquarters in Hamilton.

She said: "Today we have focused on the announcement of our Hamilton East candidate... and until our press conference on the Dependent Territories meeting, I would not like to comment beyond this statement.'' The PLP have consistently remained silent on its views on Mr. Cook's decision to draw up "custom made'' solutions for each Dependent Territory in a new broom approach by the UK Labour Government.

But it is understood that the PLP submission will also steer clear of the Independence hot potato -- once regarded as a major plank of the party's manifesto, but shoved to the back burner after the Referendum.

Political analyst Walton Brown took issue with the view that Independence is not a popular option among the people of Bermuda.

But he said: "No party wants to be seen to be promoting any Constitutional advance in the sense of greater powers being granted to Bermuda.

"I think they will be adopting a position which is not going to be seen as advancing or detracting from an independence stance. They will be going right down the middle -- which is a very wise thing to do in an election year.'' The rest of the submission is unlikely to differ much from Government's suggestions -- although the PLP are likely to lay more stress on UK passport holders not having any right to live and work on the Island.

The United Bermuda Party unveiled its submission to Mr. Cook and the House of Commons Foreign Affairs Select Committee on Wednesday.

It ruled out any moves towards Independence in the wake of the 1995 Referendum, which overwhelmingly rejected the option.

Instead, Government has concentrated on rights of residence in the UK, the same fee rates for college and university courses as UK domestic students and the abolition of visa requirements for travel in the UK.

The UBP memorandum also said Bermuda would like "fuller consultation'' with the UK Government on the way air agreements are negotiated to protect Bermuda's interests, which rely heavily on good air links for both tourism and international business.

The document suggested that right of abode for holders of the second-class British Dependent Territories Citizen passports should be considered, as well as access to the European Union for work and professional experience.

Government said this could be achieved by granting full citizenship to BDT citizens -- but without reciprocal rights for UK subjects and without UK tax law being extended to the Territories -- or by visa-free access similar to that enjoyed by Britain's European partners like France and Germany.